Sheng Jiao’s beads exploded until only that「Zhuo」character Tianyan Pearl remained. He also suffered some internal injuries. Fortunately not serious—just needing to take spirit pills and rest a few days to fully recover.
Yan Ling was extremely remorseful. When it was time to return to Yan Family Mountain, he refused to leave. Stubbornly insisting on caring for Sheng Jiao until he recovered before leaving.
The Tianyan spiritual power of the Thirteen States had completely disappeared. The only remaining bit was blasted into bloom by Xi Jue as celebration of Tianyan’s decline.
All the clans had terrible headaches but no solution. Reportedly, several great families in Central State gathered together to discuss for ages—who knows what they deliberated.
But these matters had nothing to do with this group of juniors from Zhuxing House. They hadn’t relied on Tianyan for too long and didn’t feel there was any difference with or without Tianyan. After all, there were still spiritual veins for cultivation.
Because he wasted the last Tianyan blasting fireworks for fun, Xi Jue was scolded by the Xi family. But he strolled out like nothing happened. Originally wanting to directly teleport to find Yan Ling, but with Tianyan disappeared, ‘Wheresoever I Roam’ could no longer be used. He could only climb walls to go to the Sheng residence.
Yan Ling was lying on the table in the outer chamber napping. Suddenly someone tapped the table. He jolted awake, randomly wiping his face, groggily saying: “I—I’m awake. I didn’t leave!”
Xi Jue said irritably: “Such cold weather—what are you lying here for?”
Yan Ling took a while to recognize Xi Jue. He drowsily yawned, listlessly lying back down: “Sheng Jiao is regulating his qi. I have to watch over him.”
Xi Jue’s brows furrowed tightly.
Knowing each other so many years, he’d never let Yan Ling suffer this kind of hardship. Sheng Jiao was good—regulating his own qi yet making Yan Ling endure with him?
Xi Jue couldn’t contain his anger. Leaning forward to press Yan Ling’s head, he said coldly: “He’s about recovered, right? I’ll send you back to Yan Family Mountain.”
“No rush.” Yan Ling’s head nodded bit by bit, saying vaguely: “I told my parents—go back a few days later. Don’t need you to send me.”
Xi Jue said sarcastically: “Then you watching over here is useless. Besides giving Sheng Jiao trouble, what else can you accomplish?”
Yan Ling froze, unhappily saying: “I didn’t give him trouble. He even praised me for taking good care of him.”
“Really?” Xi Jue said half-smiling. “Sheng Jiao is a nice guy. Even if you gave him trouble, he probably wouldn’t say it.”
Yan Ling’s brows furrowed.
Xi Jue, seeing he’d persuaded him, hurried to urge: “Go, go say goodbye to Sheng Jiao. Gege will send you back to Yan Family Mountain right away. You’ve been out so long—don’t you miss your parents and A Yue?”
Yan Ling: “But I…”
Xi Jue didn’t want to hear his long-winded “buts.” Quickly pushing him inside.
Just then, Sheng Jiao had just awakened from regulating qi. Seeing Xi Jue’s face full of hesitation to speak, he walked forward, softening his voice: “What’s wrong?”
“I… I’m giving you trouble. Going home now.” Yan Ling said quietly.
Sheng Jiao had finally managed to keep him in Central State a few days—how could he let him leave so easily? Smiling: “Who said you’re giving me trouble? No such thing. These days, thanks to your care, I recovered so quickly.”
Yan Ling knew he was clumsy—not nearly as good as Sheng Jiao said. He also clearly knew Sheng Jiao definitely didn’t want to discourage him, saying so. Still listless: “I really have to go home.”
Sheng Jiao frowned. Belatedly glancing toward the outer chamber, sure enough discovering the “spreading false rumors to confuse the masses” Xi Jue. He looked at him coldly.
Xi Jue smugly raised his brow at him, strolling over to put an arm around Yan Ling’s shoulder.
“Ling’er, finished saying goodbye? Gege will send you home.”
Before Sheng Jiao could persuade him to stay again, Xi Jue grinned and shook the rhinoceros horn lamp: “I already told Madam Zhao the news you’re going home. If we leave now, we can make it for tomorrow’s lunch. Madam Zhao even said there’s squirrel mandarin fish—making two!”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
Starving ghost reborn.
Things being as they were, Yan Ling couldn’t keep staying. He could only longingly look at Sheng Jiao once, being yanked away reluctantly by Xi Jue.
Sheng Jiao watched the two’s backs, not stopping them.
Even forcibly keeping Yan Ling would be useless. If he wanted to leave, he’d still depart.
“Don’t hold expectations.” Sheng Jiao thought.
But the next day, Yan Ling messaged him through the rhinoceros horn lamp: “Sheng Jiao, I’m home. You said before you’d come play at Yan Family Mountain—about when?”
Sheng Jiao, who didn’t hold expectations, said: “I’ll go now.”
Xi Jue sent Yan Ling back to Yan Family Mountain, happily freeloading several meals. Feeling he’d protected his “snow lotus” from being “ruined” by the “fierce beast,” he left satisfied.
What he didn’t know was—less than two hours after he left, the “fierce beast” surnamed Sheng came to Yan Family Mountain to “ruin” the little snow lotus surnamed Yan.
Yan Ling cheered all the way down. Seeing Sheng Jiao waiting for him at Yan Family Mountain’s stairway entrance, he directly took three steps as two, leaping over. Precisely caught properly by Sheng Jiao.
“Sheng Jiao!”
Sheng Jiao maintained a refined gentleman’s bearing, smiling faintly as he steadied him: “Yan Family Mountain is still as scenically beautiful as before.”
Yan Ling bloomed with joy at the praise, pulling Sheng Jiao’s hand to run up the mountain with thumping steps.
When Sheng Jiao was twelve, he’d come to Yan Family Mountain. But at that time, he hadn’t paid much attention to what scenery was around. Now being dragged up the mountain by Yan Ling humming a tune, he deeply felt this was a good place with abundant earth vein spiritual power.
Spiritual vein blessings run deep—only then can jade-like people be nurtured.
Yan Ling slowly walked forward. Idly finding a topic: “You’re going to have your birthday in a while, right? Thought of your courtesy name yet?”
Sheng Jiao said: “Father will decide for me.”
Yan Ling seemed to want to say something but thought about it and still held back. Leaning close to Sheng Jiao, he whispered: “I think the two characters ‘Wu Zhuo’ are quite nice.”
Sheng Jiao smiled. Extending his hand to tap his brow: “For the capping ceremony, Father will decide for me.”
That was a tactful refusal of this courtesy name.
Yan Ling pursed his lips: “If you dislike it, then I’ll use it.”
Sheng Jiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “This courtesy name doesn’t match your given name either.”
“Who cares.” Yan Ling said. “I like it, that’s all.”
Sheng Jiao said: “Your father probably wouldn’t like it much.”
Mentioning Yan Hanque, Yan Ling instantly wilted. He could only stop bringing it up.
Back in Central State, Sheng Jiao often freeloaded meals at the Yan home. Him coming to Yan Family Mountain—Madam Zhao and Yan Hanque didn’t find it strange either, warmly hosting him.
At the dining table, Madam Zhao learned Sheng Jiao held a position at Xiezhi Sect. Smiling: “Xiezhi Sect is a good place. If our Ling’er could also enter the sword dao, we’d also want to send him to Xiezhi Sect.”
Sheng Jiao smiled: “Xiezhi Sect is full of swords and danger. Ling’er has a kind heart—more suited to being a medical cultivator.”
Yan Ling was shoveling rice. Hearing this, he looked at him surprised.
Other people calling him the delicate name “Ling’er”—Yan Ling didn’t feel anything special. But why did Sheng Jiao calling it make him feel like his whole body was struck by lightning, tingly and numb?
Yan Yue hadn’t spoken the whole time. Quietly placing a piece of deboned fish meat into Yan Ling’s bowl.
Yan Ling, seeing this, not only didn’t find it thoughtful—he even glared fiercely at Yan Yue.
Yan Yue felt extremely wronged.
Following Yan Hanque cultivating the sword dao for so many years, his body was no longer as frail as before. His build lean and powerful—looking much tougher than Yan Ling’s pampered delicate body.
But being glared at by Yan Ling once, the cold and ruthless little sword cultivator Yan Yue still had reddening eyes, nearly about to cry.
Yan Ling irritably extended his hand to pat Yan Yue’s head once, eating the fish meat in one bite. Only then did Yan Yue become happy.
Sheng Jiao had been paying attention to Yan Ling. Seeing this, he raised his brows slightly, not quite understanding—aren’t these two inseparable daily? What could have happened to make them like this?
After the meal, when Yan Yue stood up to wash dishes, Sheng Jiao understood.
Nothing else—only sixteen years old, Yan Yue from years of bitter cultivation, his build growing like bamboo shoots during the months of training with Yan Hanque. At this time, he’d vaguely surpassed Yan Ling.
No wonder Yan Ling looked furiously fuming from all seven orifices.
Yan Ling with a sour face dragged Sheng Jiao back to his small courtyard, muttering quietly: “Xi Jue came yesterday and mocked me for ages.”
Nothing more than mocking that Yan Yue, younger than him, was already taller. But he was still a shorty—probably would never grow tall.
Sheng Jiao smiled, touching his head: “Won’t happen. You’re still young—can still grow.”
Because he suspected being constantly patted on the head by Zhuxing House and elders since childhood caused him not to grow tall, Yan Ling now didn’t allow others to touch his head. Subconsciously wanting to wave away Sheng Jiao’s hand, but thinking about it, he still didn’t. Looking up at him: “Really?”
Sheng Jiao: “Really.”
What Yan Ling needed was psychological comfort. He quickly became happy.
Sheng Jiao moved nearly an entire year’s rest days to play at Yan Family Mountain. Yan Ling was completely unaware, still thinking Xiezhi Sect was really this leisurely. The next day, he took Sheng Jiao down the mountain to play.
—Didn’t bring Yan Yue.
Seems he was still sulking.
Spring warm, flowers blooming—Yan Family Mountain full of vitality.
Yan Ling deliberately descended from the north face, walking while picking fresh medicinal herbs. After over an hour down the mountain, his small basket was already full of herbs, plus a just-bloomed snow lotus.
Yan Ling in white clothes carrying a small basket looked like some reclusive expert.
After the “expert” reached the small town below Yan Family Mountain, the first thing he did was buy sugar-coated haws to eat.
He held two small wooden sticks, wrapping and eating candy, saying vaguely: “So lively. Is the Flower Festival coming?”
Sheng Jiao nodded: “Mm.”
In the small town, people came and went in endless streams. Groups of three to five—extremely lively. Yan Ling also cheerfully followed to watch the excitement.
The two idly wandered all day. When night fell, Yan Ling didn’t want to go back. Hearing there were fireworks at night, he pulled Sheng Jiao to find an unpopulated spot to sit and wait.
Sheng Jiao, seeing him make a ruckus all day without getting tired, didn’t say much to disturb his elegant mood. Sitting beside Yan Ling, patiently waiting.
This place was too remote. Surrounding areas completely silent—only vaguely hearing insect chirping sounds.
Yan Ling simply removed his ear cuff, listening to a moment of tranquility.
But before long, a familiar flower blooming sound came by his ear. Yan Ling, frowning, looked in the direction of the sound. He saw by the riverbank ahead a man and woman holding hands standing, seemingly softly saying sweet nothings.
“Hey!” Yan Ling poked Sheng Jiao. “Look quick!”
The moment Sheng Jiao saw Yan Ling remove his ear cuff, he subconsciously recited calming mantras. Hearing the sound, instinctively following Yan Ling’s gaze to look over, he froze slightly.
Yan Ling’s ears were sharp. Hearing that youth’s face flushed red, stammering “I admire you,” that pretty young lady also lowered her head, imperceptibly nodding.
Then two flower blooming sounds echoed in Yan Ling’s ears.
“Ah!” Yan Ling suddenly seemed to understand something, eyes shining as he looked at Sheng Jiao. “Flower blooming sounds! I understand!”
Sheng Jiao inwardly cried out in alarm, but still forcibly maintained composure: “Understand what?”
Yan Ling said proudly: “Flower blooming is admiration! I never listened carefully before—turns out that’s the meaning.”
Sheng Jiao pressed his lips. His hand hidden in wide sleeves imperceptibly tightened its grip.
Yan Ling was happy for a while. Finally seeming to remember something, his brows furrowed tightly: “But also not right. You also have flower blooming sounds… so it’s not admiration?”
Sheng Jiao: “…”
Sheng Jiao nearly choked. Just felt this little brain of Yan Ling’s probably would never open its窍 this lifetime.
Yan Ling was still pondering what that strange flower blooming sound really was.
Sheng Jiao belatedly realized the problem: “The Thirteen States’ Tianyan spiritual power has already dissipated. Isn’t your xiangwen unusable?”
Yan Ling’s attention was diverted, saying puzzled: “I don’t know either. Maybe your Tianyan Pearl is working?”
Sheng Jiao frowned, looking at the Tianyan Pearl on Yan Ling’s wrist.
This「Zhuo」character Tianyan Pearl retained large amounts of Tianyan spiritual power. Couldn’t dissipate for a while—looked like it could maintain another day or two.
Sheng Jiao only hoped this bead’s spiritual power would quickly finish dissipating, lest Yan Ling discover the “flower blooming sound’s” clues.
Until after watching the fireworks, Yan Ling still hadn’t figured out what “flower blooming sound” really was. After returning to Yan Family Mountain with Sheng Jiao, he thumped over to Madam Zhao seeking help.
“Mother, I heard flower blooming sounds today.”
Madam Zhao was tending to a Yutan flower. Gently smiling: “What about the flower blooming sounds?”
Yan Ling said: “Someone was expressing love—so I heard flower blooming sounds.”
Madam Zhao didn’t find discussing this topic with her son boring. Patiently: “So flower blooming sounds represent yearning?”
“But it’s not right,” Yan Ling said. “I’ve also heard other flower blooming sounds, but they weren’t the meaning of yearning.”
Madam Zhao became interested. Putting down the small ladle, she said with great interest: “Someone had ‘flower blooming’ for you?”
Yan Ling nodded.
“Maybe not for you.” Madam Zhao said. “Perhaps when that person was with you, their mind was still thinking of someone else—so there were also flower blooming sounds.”
Yan Ling had a sudden realization: “So that’s how it is?”
The two were discussing when Yan Hanque came over carrying a lamp. Seeing Yan Ling here being an eyesore, he said coldly: “Not going back to sleep?”
Yan Ling “oh’d,” removing the ear ornament from his ear to listen carefully for a while. Earnestly asking Yan Hanque: “Father, you also have flower blooming sounds. Are you yearning for Mother now?”
Yan Hanque: “…”
Madam Zhao froze.
Yan Hanque’s face was about to freeze over: “Yan Ling, do you want a beating again?”
Yan Ling hurried to huddle beside Madam Zhao, originally seeking protection. But he saw Madam Zhao gently gazing at Yan Hanque. Another flower blooming sound also gradually arose.
Yan Ling: “…”
Yan Ling finally confirmed—flower blooming was yearning.
Afraid of being hung up and beaten by Yan Hanque, he hurried back. Rushing to Sheng Jiao’s quarters, getting straight to the point: “Sheng Jiao, do you have someone you yearn for?”
Sheng Jiao had just silently recited calming mantras ten times. Suddenly being asked this sentence was like being heavily struck. Caught off guard, he coughed.
“Cough… you—why ask this?”
“I already tested it.” Yan Ling said. “Flower blooming is yearning. You can’t fool me.”
Sheng Jiao’s five fingers tightly gripped his sleeve, feigning nonchalance: “What did I fool you about?”
“You ‘bloomed flowers’ before! Remember? That time!” Yan Ling vaguely felt displeased in his heart, but he didn’t notice that strange feeling. Single-mindedly just wanting to satisfy his curiosity, pressing: “Who were you thinking of then?”
Sheng Jiao, facing Yan Ling’s relentless questioning, slightly pressed his lips, seemingly not wanting to answer.
“Tell me.” Yan Ling extended two fingers in a silencing gesture pressed to his lips, saying vaguely: “I absolutely won’t tell anyone else.”
Sheng Jiao’s heart pounded like drums. Nervous to a certain degree, somehow suddenly became calm. He lowered his eyes looking at the beautifully featured, completely oblivious youth, saying flatly: “You really want to know?”
Yan Ling nodded like pounding garlic.
Sheng Jiao slightly leaned close to him, his finger gently tapping Yan Ling’s brow.
Yan Ling, poked, leaned back slightly, looking at Sheng Jiao uncomprehendingly.
The night was tranquil. Sheng Jiao could almost hear his own violent heartbeat. That sound was too loud—shaking until even Yan Ling without his ear ornament heard it crystal clear, his face full of surprise.
Immediately after, the emotions Sheng Jiao had suppressed for so long completely broke through the calming mantras’ shackles.
In the instant before the last trace of spiritual power on the Tianyan Pearl completely dissipated, a familiar sound rang in Yan Ling’s ears again.
The flower blooming sound leisurely intertwined with the tranquil night.
Yan Ling vaguely sensed something wrong. But his mind was completely blank—already unable to turn.
Sheng Jiao’s gaze looked straight at him. Finally, under Yan Ling’s gaze, he uttered one word.
“You.”
**
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1